Amana DLE330RAW dryer: NLA parts, thermostat, etc

[mike_g]

Hey ya'll.

I have a 20 year old Amana dryer, DLE330RAW. We bought it in about 2001 or 2002. It has served well, supporting near daily use (family of 6), with a little maintenance over the years: replaced motor in about 2004, and belts and rollers every 2-3 years or so, plus at least one set of drum glides.

I replaced the rollers recently, but the roller on the element side had destroyed the outer wave washer between snap ring and roller. Unfortunately, the washer is NLA: https://www.amanaparts.com/PartDetail/Washer/WPY504082/1246373?modelNumber=DLE330RAW For now, I've installed it without the washer, but need to find a substitute of some sort.

Also, I think the dryer is/was running a little hot: the insulation bubbled on the 6" wire connecting the element to the high limit thermostat. I replaced the wire and thoroughly cleaned the duct work, and it seems to be running cooler, but the thing has ran hot for years. I suspect the low limit/cycling tstat may be at fault.

Questions:

1. I suspect newer dryers are not "made like they used to be". Is this a good dryer to hang onto, long term? Or should I buy a new SQ or something?

2. Does anyone have a source or substitute for the wave washer?

3. How about the T-stat testing? I have seen tests of the exhaust temp online, as well as testing the T-stat on a pancake griddle for continuity when hot and cold online, but wondered if there were better ways to do it.

Thanks you guys,

 

[qsd-dan]

Tried an older part#. Here you go:

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[qsd-dan]

Found a cheaper one with an even older part#

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[mike_g]

Thanks @qsd-dan! I ordered the second item you posted.

 

[repairguy]

This dryer is pretty much a speed queen in disguise.

 

[mike_g]

Yeah I wondered about that, but don't know these machines. That makes sense- it seems to have been pretty bullet proof over the past 20 years…!

 

[qsd-dan]

Replacing a 2-3 year old motor, belts and rollers every 2-3 years, and one set of drum glides does not sound bulletproof at all.

 

[mike_g]

I guess my standards are low based on clothes washers and dishwashers made in the last 10 years or so?

To me, that's been pretty good service for a $400 machine, about $200 in parts over 20 years (my labor though, free...). Lots of loads through it.

Is there a better model for long term dependability, especially among new models?

 

[qsd-dan]

I guess it could be the new norm by todays standards. My grandmother had a TOL 1967 Maytag washer and HOH dryer set used for a family of 6 people and the dryer saw nothing but a motor belt change in 1995 after nearly 40 years of service. Grandma sold that house a couple of years after gramps died and the new owners insisted on leaving the washer and dryer behind. That's bulletproof in my book.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #8

That’s the whole reason why I am partial to the HOH design, no rollers to go bad or thin drum belts that can snap due to age. The HOH does need the main drum bearing oiled every now and again when used on a regular basis but will put up with that any day over having to replace rollers every 5 years or so.

 

[combo52]

20 year old electric Amana dryer

You should be able to keep this dryer going a few more years, it’s essentially the same design as a current Speed Queen all of the Speed Queen‘s are more reliable than the Amanas were.

The wire burning on the heating element it’s just a wire connection failing. It’s a common problem on electric dryers as they age has nothing to do with it running hot, etc.

If you feel like the dryer runs hot take the low temperature thermostat out you can test it if you like but you can also put one in that’s 10° cooler, and that may be more to your liking.

The most rugged dryer you can get today is the Speed Queen however, possibly better buy would just be a basic little whirlpool with the lint filter on the top.

I have no idea why you replaced the drum roller so often 20 years of that type of use should’ve only required replacement of one or two rollers total and you don’t have to replace them and sets usually only one is failing usually the one over the heater.

John L

 

[mike_g]

Thanks you guys, that's great input!

Thinking a bit more about it, I probably only replaced the rollers 3-4x over that 20 years, so more like every 5-7 years, and really maybe didn't need to replace them both every time, but did while I had it opened up. Yes the one on the burner side has worn quicker, for sure.